Crown-block apparatus



Oct. 19., 1926. 1,603,571

L. E. ZERBE ET AL CROWN BLOCK APPARATUS Filed neg, 31. 1923 ,2 sheets-sheet 1 Ff I L. E. zr-:RBE ETAL GowN BLQcKfAPPARATUs- Oct. 19 1926.

Filed Dec.. 31. 1923 2 sheets-sheet 2 1ct.7 l, im@

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Patented LEWIS 1E. ZERBE, OF MONETA., AND EDWJRD TIIVIBS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNA, l ASSIGNORS TO UNION TOOL COMPANY, 0F TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA TION OF CALIFORNIA.

CROWN-BLOCK APPARATUS.

Application led December 31, 1923. Serial No. 683,798.

This invention relates to oil well apparatus and particularly to the cables and cable sheaves which are carried at the crown block of the derrick. rll'he sheaves at the crown block usually operate to support a traveling block with a number of sheaves, and may also include special sheaves to be used with the sand line, and for operating standard tools. y `With the usual arrangement of sheaves, the diameter of the sheaves is considerably limited, from which it follows that the cable, in passing onto the sheaves, is

bent to a relatively small radius; this is 'de-l structive to the cables and is objectionable.

rlllhe general object of this invention is to provide a crown block apparatus having a simple construction enabling the diameter of the sheaves to be made relatively large.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact crown block construction which will facilitate the use of the cable in the manner suggested, and which will also enable the sand line sheave and crown sheave to be properly aligned with respect to the center line of the well.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

llhe invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient crown block apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

ha the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a crown block embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the crown bloch shown in Figure l;

litigare 3 is a vertical section taken about on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, but showing the support-ing shaft and sheaves brokenv away; this view particularly illustrates the means shifting the shaft when the upper side of s becomesworn;

embodiment of the invention, slightly altered organization with respect to that shown in Figure 5 is a vertical section through the crown block shown in Figure l; this-section is taken on the line 5 5 of Figure l.

Figure G is a diagrammatic "elevation illustrating the traveling block with its sheaves,

and showing the manner in which they are' supported from the crown block sheaves by the cable; and

Figure 7 is aside elevation of the sheaves and cables shown in' Figure 6 and further or passes of the rove around the sheaves so that as the cablev passes onto each sheave it bends in the same direction from the straight line in which the cable extends, or is moving.

We also provide a crown block of such construction as will enable crown sheaves of relative large diameter to be employed.

We provide two alternative organizations or arrangements of the crown sheaves, both of which embody our invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the crown sheaves that support the traveling` block are all on the same shaft, and in another embodiment, they are disposed on two shafts. In either case, the crown sheaves that support the traveling block are disposed in two sets, and these sets are separated from each other so that a gap is formed between them.

The sand line and cable tool sheaves are preferably mounted over and substantially in alignment with the gap between the sets of sheaves. ln the embodiment of the invention shown in F iguree l and 2 in which the crown sheaves are supported on the same shaft, l represents the crown block of the derriclr, which includes a pillow block 2 supporting a plurality of sheaves indicated generally by the numeral 3 and disposed in two vsets 3 and 3b. .is a plan of a crown bloclr show 'lfhis "pillow bloclr .may be composed of three f ames t, and 5, each frame being in a of a vertical plate 'with a central ree Fig. and stitfened up by ribs 8; i flange 9 is provided sponding I-beam at the bottom which isbolted to a corre- 10 disposed under each frame.

In the spaces between the I-beams 10, the sheave sets 3? and 3b are disposed, the said sheaves being mounted upon a horizontal shaft 11 which is held fixed lin integral brackets 12 formed on the flanges 9.

Above the pillow block 2, we support the sandy line sheave 13 and the regular crown sheavev 14, said sheaves being supported in suitable .brackets 15 resting on horizontal cross-beams 16, which are I-beams (see Fig. 2), and which operate as ties or tie-bars to connect the upper ends of the frames 4, 5 and. 6, to which they are bolted. The sheaves 13 and 14 are at right angles to the sheaves 3.

The intermediate one of the beams 10 is preferably disposed slightly away from the middle axis of the construction as viewed inplan, sotha-t the inner edges 17 and 18 of the sheaves 13 and 14 can be disposed oppof site to each other and substantially in line with'the axis of the well; they are right-over the gap 19xwhich is formed between the two sheave sets 3al and 3". y

Referring to Figure 3, the sheaves 3 are mountedon roller bearings 20. It will be evident that the wear on the shaft 11 takes place principally on the upper side of the shaft. We provide means for taking care of this wear by shifting the shaft into a reversed position; in other words, we provide means to enable the shaft to be held in a position turned on its axis through 180 degrees from its first position, so as to bring the under face of the shaft uppermost. In

-mder to do this, and at the same time enable the shaft to be held securely, we provide the brackets 12 with means for holding the shaft fixed in either of these two positions. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner. As illustrated in- Figure 2, we out away the end face of the shaft at two diametrically opposite points so as to form a transverse shoulder 21 at an elevated point and a transverse shoulder 22 at a depressed or lower level. On the ca 23 of the adjacent bracket 12, we provi e a transverse plate 24, the lower edge of which engages the shoulder 21 and locks the `shaft against rotation. These two shoulders 21 and 22 are parallel with each lother and are located at an equal distance from the axis of the shaft. Hence, when the upper face 25 'of the shaft (see Fig. 3) becomes worn, the cap should/be loosened, and the shaft may then be rotated on its axis through, 180 degrees so as to bring the shoulder 22 uppermost, whereupon the cap 23 will be reseated with the locking plate 24 engaging the shoulder 22.

Instead of having all ofthe lowerA crown sheaves on the same shaft, we may mount diameters.

them on two shafts 26 and 27 (see Fig. 4). These shaftsare parallel with each other and disposed slidhtly apart. are, as before, cisposed in two sets, each set being composed of three sheaves 28,

2C", and 28, respectively. The sheaves 28b are disposed between the sheaves 231 and 28C. In other words, the sheaves overlap each other in side elevation (see Fig. 7). In this instance the crown block. 29 may in elude a pillow block 30 built up of three frames like the frames 4, 5 and 6, and tied together above by Lbeams 31disposed paralfel to each other and slightly apart so as to provide-a space for mounting the sand line sheaves 32 fand the regular crown si eave 33.y 'In this case, the sheaves 32 and are mounted in the same vertical plane and with their adjacent edges disposed over tle gap 34 which is formed between the two sots of lower crown sheaves.

With such an organization of sheaves, the cable 34l1 is rove around the sheaves in the manner illustrated in Figures -6 and 7. In this view a indicates the straight run of the cable which is attached to the draw works. This run of the` cable passes up over the sheave 281 which causes the cable to be bent toward the left as it passes 4onto the sheave. From the'sheaves 28b`the run bpasses down to one of the sheaves 35 in the traveling block 36 and in passing onto this sheave 35 the cable is also bent to the left. The straight run c of the cable passing u from the sheave 35 passes onto the next a jacent crown sheave and passes around it by bending to the left, as before.

After passing over all of the sheaves in this way as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the last run n of the cable passes down to the calf-wheel. For convenience in following the direction of reeving the loops or falls of the cable illustrated in Figure 6, the successive runs have been lettereda, Z7, c, (Z, e, f, g, h, 7c, Z, m, and n, with a small arrow near each letter. indicating the direction of pull in the cable, it being understood that the cable is being. taken up b v the drawworlis.

It will beA evident that with the organization of sheaves described above, there is ample clearance for the sheaves, which enables them to be made with relatively large For lubricating the bearings Athe shaft 11 is provided withl suitable oil ports 37 closed at their outer ends by suitable plugs 38.

It is understood thatthe embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take and we do not wish to be limited inthe practice of the invention nor in the vclaims to the particular embodiment set forth.

The sheaves moet t l/lfhat We claim .is:- n l. ln a crown block construction for oil Woll derrelztsj the combination of e pillow block, a plurality ot :aligned sheaves oerried by 'the pillow-block disposed so as to form a gap at about -tlie oentralvertioel exis of the orovvri bloclr, eind et pair of sheaves disposed in e plaine substantially at right angles to tbe plane of the .tirst named sheaves, and supported on the block ebove tbe lirst named sheaves vvitb their inner side edges substantially over the seid gap.

2. ln a erovvri bloeit construction for oil Well derriolrs9 the Combination of e pillow i' block, a plurality of sbeaves rotatably supported in 'tbe pllovvblock and disposed in sets, one of said sets being separated from 'tbe otberg' so es to lesive a gap between ne sets, end a pedir-ot slieaves supported ou tbe pillow block above tbe irst trained slieeves emol disposed vvitli their inner side edges over tbe said 3. llii e orovvii bloolr construction for oil Weil derricks, tbe combination of e pillowbloclr, a plurelitv ot sheaves rotatably supported in they pillow-block, Asaid sheaves being disposed in tv/'o sets seperated from web otlier so es form a gap between` tbe sets, arid e pair of sheaves supported on the pillow-block ebove the rst named sheaves end mounted to rotate ori aries substenitiallvy et right enp'lesfto the axes-o vthe lower slieeve's.7 sei upper. .sheaves leaving their inner side edges disposed substantiall 1 in line WtlL tlie reid werp.

Signed at Terrence, Californie this 19th dey olf" December i923. 

